Mental health risk not raised by abortion

9th December 2011

A review by experts from the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) has found that abortion does not raise the risk of a woman suffering mental health problems.

Data from 44 studies showed women with an unwanted pregnancy have a higher incidence of mental health problems in general but this is not affected by whether or not they have an abortion or give birth. However, anti-abortion campaigners said the review sought to minimise the psychological effect of terminating a pregnancy.